Athletes overwhelmingly support gene test – Coe

The gene test, which will be introduced for those who want to compete in the female category, is “overwhelmingly supportive,” according to Lord Coe, president of World Athletics.

The governing body approved the use of a one-time test for the SRY gene, which is a component of the Y chromosome and causes the development of male traits, to be used in international ranking competitions in March.

A cheek swab or blood test can be used to perform the test, which is only required once. The athlete may compete in the female category if the Y chromosome results in negative results.

The rules take effect on September 1 and will apply to the World Championships, which will begin in Tokyo on September 13.

More than 90% of Japanese female category competitors will have undergone testing before settling in the nation, according to Coe, with the rest remaining testing in their pre-competition holding camps.

He claimed that the athletes have been extremely helpful in all this and are overwhelmingly supportive of this.

The member federations have been very encouraging, and we needed to create the most effective test, the one that was least intrusive, that we could carry out.

There will still be athletes who will be tested even in their holding camps in Tokyo, the statement continued.

At the World Athletics Council meeting in March, the body’s decision to tighten rules governing transgender and difference of sex development (DSD) athletes was one of several recommendations.

Transgender athletes who had passed male puberty were prohibited from competing in the female category of international competition in March 2023 by World Athletics.

After finding new evidence that testosterone suppression “can only ever partially mitigate the overall male advantage in the sport of athletics,” a working group also suggested merging World Athletics regulations for both DSD and transgender athletes.

The league, which first launched in 2025, offered significant financial incentives, including pay raisers of up to $ 70,000 (£73, 600) for winners of contract races, as well as salaries for contracted athletes, but Johnson claims it has been unable to meet the payment deadlines.

Johnson confirmed that the competition won’t continue in 2026 unless athletes receive their owed funds after the season’s final event was called off in June.

You must possess the necessary funds. That is crucial, according to Coe.